Fire-control apparatus for naval guns



Ami! 7, w25. www@ W. AKEMANN FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS Filed March 13, 1924 2 Sheeizsee 1 ,Da c l i C1 g2 g1 1 'b1 d5 dgd 5 /f l mm' W MME; L

w. AKEMANN FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS Filed March 13, 1924 2 Shee-Sue 2 WALTHER AKEMANN,OF BERLIN-DAHLEM, GERMANY; ASSIGNO'R T0 FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-TH-E-RUHR, GERMANY.

FIRE-CONTROL APPARATUS FOR NAVAL GUNS.

, Application filed March 13, 1924. Serial No. 699,026.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTHER AKEMANN, residing at Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, a citizen of the German Republic, have 1nvented a certain new and useful Improvement inFire-Control Apparatus for Naval Guns, of which the following 1s a specilication.

' The invention relates to a fire control apparatus for naval guns which isprovided with a firing device Vhaving' a stabilized and a non-stabilized firing tongue, and in which a motor is provided serving for the common adjustment of the non-stabilized firing tongue and, at least, one gun barrel.

The invention has for its object to so 1mprove apparatus of this kind that it en ,ables the requirements of the firing device to be allowed for in a particularly satisfying manner and to impart to a singl-e gun, or to a plurality of guns, elevations which are synchronous to one another and take place true in angle with respect to the movements of the transmitter of the long distance adjusting apparatus. a

With this end in View the invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out 1n the appended claims.

The invention will now be described 1n detail with reference to the accompanying drawingl which diagrammatically illustrates` bv way of example, an embodiment of the subject-matter of the invention and in which:

Fig. l illustrates the arrangement and connection of the members of the tire control apparatus, and

Fig. 2 a wiring diagram of the electric installation forming part of the fire control apparatus.

The whole lire control apparatus is composed of two installations one of which is situated `in an observing station and the other -in the gun station.

In the observing station of the ship is arranged a Cardan firing gyroscope the casing A of which is arranged 011 a sector B and is adjustable, according to the range of the target, on one of the horizontal Cardan axes, C. The sector B in its turn, is

adapted to be swung about the same Car-- dan axis C. On the end projecting beyond the casing A, of the stabilized Cardan axis C is fixed asighting telescope c1. On the casing A is further provided one, a1, of the firing tongues of an automatic firing device the counter tongue c2 of which is adjustably mounted ona part which is stabilized by the gyroscope. 'The adjustability, not forming part of the invention and therefore not illustrated, o-f the counter tongue c? has the object of automatically allo-Wing' for the influence of the velocity of roll on the angle of advanced ignition and thus on the angle of elevation, in the moment of the shot.

A hand wheel D mounted for rotation on the sector B serves, for adjusting the casing A and therewith the tongue asl to the angle of elevation according to the range of the target. The shaft (Z1 of said hand Wheel D is positively connected to the casing A by a worm gear cl2 0:2.

On the shaft d1 is fixed a drum d3 showing a range scale and co-operating with a fixed reading-olf mark b1. By means of a rod (z3 the casing A is further connected to a pivoted pointer at the point of which cooperates with two marks gland g2 fixed on a stationary part and including an angular distance of 3f for instance.

For adjusting the sector B there is provided firstly a .continuous current motor E e1 the armature e1 of which is positively connected to a shaft F by the intermediary of a releasable clutch e2. The shaft F is connected to the sector Bfby means of a worm gear f1 b4. A hand-operated switch e3 having four switch positions isl allotted to the motor E c1. The sector B shows two lugs b5 which co-operate .with fixed abut? ments Gr and limit the swmging vmo-vement of the sector B on both sides. The sector B further carries a mark b -which indicates in co-operation with a fixed mark g3, Whether the sector B takes its middle position or not. Secondly, a hand Wheel f2 mounted on one end of the shaft F serves for adjusting the sector B, said hand wheel loosely rotating with the shaft F when the latter is driven by the motor E e1, and being made use of when the clutch e2 has been'thrown out. On the other end of the shaft F are mounted three brushes f3 staggered to one another by l2()o and forming the rotating part of a transmitter H excitedfby cont A conductor /tl so con- Ly continuous current that it will rotate synchronously with the brushes f3. To the shaft F further, are positively connected the armatures f4, fr of an indicating device working after the coarse and fine system, to which armatures are connected by a conductor fs the armatures, carrying the coa-rse and line pointers f, f1, of the corresponding receivers. Y y

'lhe receiver J 1 is mounted in the gun station and-has for its object to impart, to the gun barrel K of the gun to be trained in elevation, an adjustment corresponding to the adjustment of the sighting telescope f1, the portion situated in the gun station, of the fire control apparatus being arranged in the following manner.

The gun barrel K which is mounted'by trunnions in a mounting cap-able of lateral training also, is provided with a toothed elevating arc 761 and an auxiliary toothed are 7a2. The arc 7c1 is in mesh with a pinion m? driven by the elevating motor M m1 which is a continuous current motor. A roloasable clutch m4 is interposed in the shaft m1 leading from the armature m1 of the motor M m1 to the pinion fm2.

For connecting the elevating motor M m1 to its source of continuous current M5 a switch device N is provided the arrangement and connection of the members of which is to be seen in Figi while its wiring diagram is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. l, fi? denotes the armature shaft of the receiver J 1 while 3 denotes a holder mounted on the shaft 2 and carrying four brushes 4 5 6 7. n1 is a stationary commutator-like body, a2 is a resistance closed in itself the parts of which are conductively connected to the segments of the body n1. 7c3 is 'a shaft carrying a pinion 7;1 while 705 denotes a common holder of two brushes 7.;1 and L which is mounted on the shaft 7c3, said brushes being also allotted to said body n1. The pinion is in mesh with the auxiliary arc 7a2. Two of the brushesy 1 5, are connected to the source of currentjMr by slip rings, the two other brushes, 6, 1, are connected to'one another by a conductor 8. A shaft 11 is positively connected to the'armature shaft 2 by means of a reduction gear, said shaft 11 serving, by

intermediary of two worm gears 1 and 11,

winding fm, supplied by` the source of continuous current M", Fig. 2.

The contact rings have embedded in their periphery contact pieces 'showing the dimensions illustrated in Fig. 2, which contact pieces are connected to each other or to the source of current M5, respectively, in

-the manner likewise shown in Fig. 2.

hand-operated switch 'mi adjustable in three switch positions, is contained in the armature circuit. In the switch position I the circuitv containinflr the armature m1 of the elevating motor 1s closed, Fig. 2; -in position II, in addition, a circuit is closed which causes a signal lamp P situated in the observing station to light up, and in position III all conduits leading to the switch m7 are cut off.

The shaft 7c3 has further positively connected to-it in the manner shown in Fig. 1 the transmitter armatures 71613 7014 of a long distance indicating apparatus to which armatures are connected the armatures of the corresponding receivers by a conductor 701". Said receiver armatures which carry the coarse and line pointers k1 701*1 are enclosed, together with the receivers carrying the coarse and line pointers f6 f7 in a common casing. Thiscasing is situated in the observing station but may also be placed in the gun station.

In describing the working of the hereinbefore describedpire control apparatus it may be supposed that the gun barrel K assumes its horizontal loading position, that the mark 7) of the sector B is opposite the mark g3 and that the mark `b1 belonging to the range scale of the drum Z3 shows the range Zero.A It may be further supposed that the two switches e3 and m7 take their cut-off position and that the gyroscope is in motion. If now while the ship is rolling, the gun barrel K, already laterally trained, is to have imparted to it the elevation corresponding to the range of the target relative to a horizontal plane and to be fixed automatically, prior to its passage through the horizontal floating position by an amount of time corresponding to the firing delay, then firstly the casing A of the gyroscope firing device and therewith the tiring tongue a1 mounted thereon and the pivoted pointer 0,4 are adjusted to the elevation angle corresponding to the range of the target, by rotating the hand wheel D. Then the sector B is swung together with the casing A which is stationary relatively to it by means of the self-locking worm gear d2 a2, by rotating the hand-wheel f2, with the clutch c2 thrown out, about the Cardan axis C until the pomter a* partaking in this movement, will be oppo site the so-called ready mark-g2. The rotation of the hand wheel f2 is taken part in by the brushes f3 mounted on the shaft F, of thetransmitter H which brushes cause, in their turn, by the intermediary of the Wire h1, a synchronous rotation, true in angle, of the armature 1 ofthe corresponding receiver J 1. The rotation of the armature 1 is so transmitted by the shaft i2 and the interposed gear to the brush holders 3, 12 and 13 that the angle of rotation of the holder 12 will be a multiple of the angle of rotation of the holder 13 and that the angle of rotation of holder 3 will be a multiple of that of holder 12. Besides, the described rotation of the hand wheel ,f2 causes the coarse and tine pointers f4 f5 of the long distance indicating apparatus annexed to shaft F to rotate. The coarse and fine pointers f6 f1 of the receiver connected thereto by the conductor f8 thus take an adjustment which indicate the angular position of the sector B. j

During these operations the gun is loaded. As soon `as the loading operation is completed the hand switch m1 in the gun station is brought from its open position IH into the so-called running-in position I in which the winding of thev armature m1 of the elevating motor M m1 is connected to the lagging switch device and thus to the source of current M5, see Fig. 2. Since the armature m1 is connected to points of different potential owing to the rotation of the holders 3, i12 and 13 carrying the brushes 2'* to i1 and i1* to i" respectively, it begins to run and thereby swings the gun barrel K by the intermediary of the elevating gear m2 1 about the horizontal trunnions (not shown). The rotation of the armature m1 is also taken part in, by the intermediary of the gear 7:2 kt 7:3, by the brush holder lc and the contact rings k11, 1011 in such a manner that one revolution of the'contact ring 7f12 corresponds to a multiple of revolutions of the contact ring c11, and one revolution of this ring f11 to a multiple of revolutions of the brush holder los. The rotation of the armature m1 is further transmitted to the coarse and tine transmitter 7613, k1*

positively connected to the shaft k3 and causes by means of the conductor 7c an adjustment of the coarse and tine pointers 7u, Z016 of the corresponding coarse and fine receivers, which adjustment indicates the adjustment of the gun barrel K. The rotation ot the armature m1 lasts until the brush holder 7c5 and the contact rings have completed angular ways which are proportional to those of the brush holders 3, 2712, 13. As soon as these angular ways have been completed all parts ot the lagging switch device again assume the mutual posi-l tion shown in Fig. 2 in which position the brushes "are connected to points of equal i potential and the armature m1 is short-- circuited. Therefore the latter comes to rest in this position after having completed an angular way which exactly corresponds to that of the adjustable part f3 of the transmitter. The ratios of transmission of the gear mv2 are so determined hthat with the said angular motion the gun barrel has been turned by an angle equal to the adjustment of the sector B. As after the foregoing the sector B has beenswung by the elevation angle minus 3 an elevation has been imparted to the gun barrel K which is equal to the elevation angle corresponding to the range of the target minus 3. Besides, upon the rotation of the armature m1 the coarse and fine pointers 1015,' 701 have been turned by angles which exactly'correspond to the turning angles of the coarse and tine pointers f6, f7. After the motor M m1 has come to rest' the two pairs of pointers f6 f1 and 7515 k1 therefore show exactly the same adjustment and thereby indicate that thel gun barrel K has undergone the elevation corresponding to the adjustment of sector B.-

A's soon as the gun barrel K has been adjusted to the elevation angle corresponding to the range of the target minus 3 the hand switch m1 is brought into the so-called ready position denoted by II in which' the signal lamp P in the observing station lights up and in which, besides, the armature m1 is connected to the switch device N. The lighting up of the lamp P indicates to the gunner controlling the gyroscope firing device that the gun barrel K has been loaded and has undergone an elevation relative to its platform, which is reduced by 3' relative to the elevation corresponding to the range of the target. Now, while the side in question of the ship moves towards the lower reverse point of roll, the gunner first closes a hand switch, not shown, which is situated in the firing circuitcontaining the tiring tongues a1 c2 and the tiring magnet, not shown. Further he throws in the clutch e2. Thus, While the side in question of the ship is passing through the .lower reverse point of roll, he brings the switch e3 from the open position I into one of the closed positions, denoted by II.v The motor E e1 is thus supplied with current for one direction of rotation and after a short constant starting period will reach its normal number otl revolutions, the shaft F thereby rotating with constant number of revolutions also. The rotation of shaft F is transmitted on the one hand by the transmitter` f8 H, the receiver J i1, the switch device N to the elevating motor M m1 and causes by the intermediary of the gearm3 m2 k1 an additional elevation of the gun barrel K. The elevating motor M m1 rotates, after a constant starting period, likewise with a constant number of revolutions, the condi-y tions being so chosen that the firing tongue al swung by the motor E e1 about the axis C will again be opposite the counter tongue c2 stabilized by the gyroscope, during the upwardly directed movement of roll,fin a moment in which the ship is still inclined by the angle of advanced ignition relative to its horizontal floating position, and that the tongue a1 will again assume its angular position shown in Fig. 1 relative to the tongue 02 when the ship lies horizontally. The tongue a1 has thus additionally been swung by 3, during the upward movement of roll up to the horizontal floating position, by the motor E e1. As the adjustment of the tongue a1 and that of the gun barrel are equal to one another, the gun barrel has also been additionally elevated by 3 during the upward movement of roll upto the horizontal floating position and therefore assumes in this moment the elevation corresponding to the range of the target relative to its platform. When, before the horizontal position is reached, the tongue a1 touches the counter tongue c2 in passing it, the firing circuit is closed and the shot is effected automatically. The rojectile thus leaves the gun barrel K with t e given firing delay in that moment in,which the ship is passing through the horizontal floating position.

After the shot has been fired the hand switch, not shown, situated in the observing station and contained-in the firing circuit, is opened and the motor E e1 is set in rotation in the direction opposite to the firstdescribed, by bringing the switch e3 through the open position III into the closed position IV? causing this rotation. By the rota-l tion of the armature c1 the gun barrel K is swung back again into its horizontal loading position by the intermediary of the members f3 H J l N M m1. Besides, the pairs of pointers f f7 and 7015 k1 return to their initial position. As soon as the gun barrel K has reached the loading position, which is indicated in the observing station by the marks b and g3 registering with each other, the hand switch e3 in the observing station is brought into its open position I. This causes the armature e1 and thereby the gun barrel to come to standstill. Then', if necessary, the formerly adjusted range is corrected for the next shot in theobservingl ation by suitably turning the hand wheel .The initial adjustment ofthe non-stabilized-firing tongue a1 and of the gun barrel which is greater by a constant amount than the relative velocity of the tongue a1 and c caused by the velocity of roll of the ship. For this increase in velocity by a .constant amount of the tongue a1 is suitable with re-v` gard to the properties of the (not illustrated) device for automatically regulating the angle of advanced ignition (device for automaticall adjusting the tongue c2 rela#- tive to the ardan ring carrying it) and-gis.A

even necessary with small velocities of roll..

For, this device which is not a subjectmatter of this' invention and therefore is not illustrated, is able to'work in a satisfying manner only if the non-stabilized firing tongue a14 is moved past the stabilized tongue c? with practically uniform velocity not exceeding determined upper and/lower limits.

The main advantage of the hereinbefore described invention resides in the extraordinarily increased exact-ness of adjustment due to the connection of a gyroscope firing device ,with motorially adjustable firing tongue, to a switch device securing the adjustment of the elevating motor to a predetermined angular distance and in the extraordinarily increased firing velocity of the gun or the plurality of uns fitted with the described apparatus. T is exactncss 'of adjustment is firstly based on the fact that inaccuracies inthe synchronism of the armatures e1 and 'il are entirely obviated, since on the one hand, with motor drive too great accelerations of the transmitter brushes f3 will not arise during the starting period andv since, on the other hand, the receiver armature 1 has to deliver only a small turning moment in order to rotate the parts of little mass of the switch device connected thereto, while the large energy required for adjusting the gun barrel is produced by the elevating motor which is controlled true in angle by said switch device. The partielllarly increased firing velocity likewise attained results first of all from the fact that all the necessary adjustments may be made` mitter, a receiver' in connection with said transmitter, a gun elevating motor, and a switch device controlled by said receiver and in turn controlling the angular movements of said elevating motor whereby said elevating motor is adapted to execute an angular movement equal to the angular movement of said transmitter.

2. A fire control apparatus for naval guns, con'iprising a firing device having a stabilized and non-stabilized firing tongue, a main transmitter for transmitting angular movements, a common motor for driving said non-stabilized firing tongue and said transmitter, a receiver in connection with said transmitter, a gun elevating motor, a switch device cont-rolled by said receiver and in turn controlling the angular movements of said elevating motor whereby said elevating motor is adapted to execute an angular movement equal to the angular movement of said transmitter, an auxiliary transmitter positively actuated in consonance With said main transmitter, a second auxiliary transmitter positively actuated by thc gun, a rcceiver in connection with each of said auxiliary transmitters, and an indicator operated by each of said auxiliary-transmitterconnected receivers for indicating the relative angular movements of said main transmitter and said gun.

3. In a fire control apparatus according to claim l, a circuit switch interposed between said gun elevating motor and said device, a signal lamp, and means whereby said circuit switch in one of its positions is adapted to close a circuit to said lamp.

4. In a fire control apparatus according to claim l, a pointer actuated in consonance with said nonstabilized fire tongue, and a scale for cooperating,r With said pointer, said scale being provided with a zero mark and a ready mark spaced from each other by a small angular distance.

The foregoing specification signed at Berlin, Germany, this th day of February,

WALTHER AKEMANN. 

